Leaving internet logins with your will

One thing you may want to consider when storing your will is the option of leaving your login details for online accounts in an informal letter that accompanies the will. It can be a messy and prolonged process for your family to gain access to any online accounts you hold, for example anything stored “in the cloud” such as emails and google docs, and social media sites.

Our wills contain a clause that gives your executors the right to access accounts as well as crypto-assets.

Many larger companies (like Facebook) have protocols for what to do when someone dies. In fact, you can set your preferences in your Facebook account settings whilst you are still alive! However, in many other instances, if you don’t leave the login details, your family will have to contact the companies directly and many of them are not based in the UK, thus further complicating and delaying the process.

Some examples of websites where the logins can prove important are email accounts, gambling websites, music websites, stores where you have credit and any online services which you subscribe to.

Be aware that leaving the login details as part of your actual will can cause problems. This is because your will is often effectively put into the public domain after your death, making your logins available to anyone who cares to enquire. For that reason, the logical thing to do is to store an informal letter containing the login information and passwords alongside your will, thus making them easy for your executors to find and act upon. Security is paramount: make sure that any details of logins are kept safe with your wills.